Abstract

Neurospora, a filamentous ascomycete, occurs in tropical climate. We have examined the relationships that exist among wild isolates in local populations of Neurospora by using PCR–RFLP to analyse the Non Transcribed Spacer (NTS) of the rDNA. The size of the NTS was found to be polymorphic. Phylogenetic trees constructed using this data support the hypothesis that mating groups represent monophyletic lineages. Specifically, the results suggest monophyly for N. tetrasperma and N. sitophila, a close relationship between the pseudohomothallic species N. tetrrasperma and true heterothallics, and the placement of N. discreta as the most distant among all species. The yellow ecotype of N. intermedia has been assigned a putative phylogenetic position for the first time. Surprisingly, these yellow isolates, considered to be an ecotype of N. intermedia, appear to represent a separate lineage, distinct from a larger N. crassa/N. intermedia clade.